The Constitution Hanging by a Thread?

It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  However, today is the first day of a New Year.  We have so much to be grateful for in this country, but we also have much to be wary of as well.  Today, a bill (HR 1540) goes into effect.  This is the NDAA or National Defense Authorization Act.  This one bill is over 500 pages, and quietly passed into law.  Click here for a link to the bill.

This is anything but an exhaustive article, but I want to hit a few points, so take the time to read this briefly and then dig deep and find your own answers. 

Today, I would dare say, our Constitution hangs by a thread.  I am reminded of the phrase attributed to Martin Niemöller,

“First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.  Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.” 

This statement was first published in 1955 in a book called, They Thought They Were Free.  How many Americans watched the ball drop, celebrated with friends, played games and got drunk last night, and thought they were free?  I know that I enjoyed the night with family and friends alike.  However, I have no illusion that I am as free today as I was yesterday.  I still live in the greatest country on earth.  I still have more freedoms than most people have ever had, but they are dwindling quickly, and I am watching.

Image via Wikipedia

I belong to many different “groups” on Facebook.  There are many disccusions…usually trivial and meaningless, but sometimes the debates are very interesting.  I am saddened by the educational dead zone that exists.  Yes, many know some facts, and many know the rhetoric on the left and on the right, but many are blind to the duplication of history that is being performed right before their eyes.  At least, some of them.  They trust their government.  They trust that human nature “could never” do something like happened to the Jews during WWII.  But it has begun, in the same manner as it did then, and many other times in history.  You remember the saying, those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  One of our Utah Representatives, Rob Bishop, was a history teacher.  Has he forgotten the lessons he taught?  Because it appears he saw no problem with this bill. 

Let’s not repeat history, let’s make history.  Let’s be the first nation in the history of the world to not fall into tyranny, but liberate ourselves once again the individuals in America from a tyrannical Federal Government, that believe our rights as American citizens can be tossed aside for a little safety.  We do this not by violent measures, but by a strong state government that is unwilling to allow the Federal government to overreach its jurisdiction within our state.

I am not a Rachel Maddow fan, but this clip illustrates that this is not a left / right issue, but an issue of civil liberties that should alarm all of us.  It is not R’s vs. D’s.  It is us (the people) against the tyranny of a much-too-large Federal government and it’s overreaching powers and authority.  The blame I place is not on the Democrats, because the Republicans control the House.  It does not sit entirely on Obama’s shoulders, however, he signed it without a veto as he should have. 

 

You can see how your House representatives voted click HERE.  Three of Utah’s representatives (Jim Mattheson –D , Rob Bishop –R , and Orrin Hatch of the Senate – R) decided your rights as an American citizen no longer deserved the protection granted in the Bill of Rights.  What does the Oath of Office mean to people?  Does it mean anything?  Do they understand they are not there to protect us from would-be crimes, but to protect our rights and liberties?  How long will the people of Utah allow their representatives to disregard their oath?   We have many Republicans running against Jim Mattheson in the 4th district including two of my favorites, Carl Wimmer and Mia Love.  We have a few candidates considering Orrin Hatch be “called home” namely Dan Liljenquist and Chris Herrod.  Also, Tim Aalders has talked about running, but is not official as of late.  But who is challenging Rob Bishop?  No one!  Really?  He goes unchallenged, and that causes me to believe Utah is fast asleep at the wheel, or they think Rob unbeatable.

Montana is doing something about this, and I hope Utah will join in the fight with them.  It’s time to re-call these men for violating their oath.  See the Montana article HERE.  But in order to be like Montana, we will need a very strong governor that will push hard against the Federal government. So far, Gary Herbert hasn’t been that guy.  Our individual liberty demands that our state sovereignty be strengthened.  We have a few candidates that have stepped up to run against Utah’s governor, namely Morgan Philpot and Ken Sumsion.

I’ve had people say to me, “Come on this will never affect YOU.”  Well, this bill, hasn’t had time yet, but it’s predecessor, The Patriot Act already has.  Rachel Maddow brings up the movie “The Minority Report.”  Please read my post on that subject here called Guilty until Proven Innocent.  For I have felt the sting of The Patriot Act myself, and wonder what would possess my Federal Government to suddenly see me, a mother of five, as a terrorist?  And yet, I was questioned because of the Patriot Act as if I was one.  If I have no right to trial, no right to a lawyer, no right to even know my charges, then what hope would I ever have of liberty or freedom in this once great country? 

Do you see how slippery the slope is when we trade essential liberty for a little temporary safety?  In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “we will have neither, and deserve neither.”

Other articles you may like peruse from Forbes and the ACLU and a few that talk about why this is a very real threat: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/12/05/the-national-defense-authorization-act-is-the-greatest-threat-to-civil-liberties-americans-face/?mid=569

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-signs-indefinite-detention-law

http://theintelhub.com/2011/12/17/crushing-the-disinformation-surrounding-indefinite-detention-of-americans-under-the-ndaa/

http://www.infowars.com/president-obamas-ndaa-signing-statement-i-have-the-power-to-detain-americans-but-i-wont/

http://www.naturalnews.com/034538_NDAA_American_citizens_indefinite_detainment.html?mid=56

Since this was published, Ron Paul has asked for section 1021 to be repealed….

Morgan Philpot’s Words of Wisdom

 

As many of you know, Morgan Philpot resigned as Vice-Chairman of the Utah Republican Party.  He is currently running for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District and if chosen by the Republican party delegates will face incumbent Jim Mattheson.  I ran across words from him that I think we should all consider.  This was taken from the Utah GOP Blog at http://utahgop.wordpress.com/   To find out more about becoming a delegate on March 23 in Utah, please contact us.

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Vice-chair’s Message:

These days I see and hear a great deal of political discontent. It is not simply a product of Democrat control of Congress and the White House – many members of our own party are not happy with the Republican message and agenda on a local and national scale. The State Party leadership team is aware of this, and we are doing something about it by focusing on principles and returning to our roots.

Believe it or not, I can empathize with this discontent and believe it may even be merited. Let me explain:

Hugh Nibley, speaking on the Second Law of Thermodynamics (the law of entropy) stated, “Everything runs down.” Similarly, biologist Lyall Watson said, “[l]eft to itself everything tends to become more and more disorderly.”

I believe that our party and especially our government should be critically analyzed for the same inevitable trend. As systemic integrity and order decreases, aggregation of power and patronage increases. Systemic integrity is vital to the proper check and balance of power, especially in a constitutional and free society where sovereignty rests in people.

Today we are charged as individuals and party members with a responsibility to rein in partisan and governmental processes where almost every person, faction, and politician seems to be “walking in their own path,” or seeking their own power. I believe all should strive to maintain the maxim of power, with its requisite agency and accountability, in the lowest common denominator – the people.

If left for too long, compromise and decay in systemic integrity – without proper renewal and attention – can lead to critical failure. Long term and systemic compromise and decay in our political systems at home in Utah and abroad in America is one big reason why we are seeing turbulence and political discontent today. Many feel that with this systemic corruption has come aggregation of power and influence. This reality gives rise to the great responsibility that is laid at our feet as free men and women; to renew the system.

How then do we renew the system? I believe the answer lies in active political participation at a local level wherein we seek to maintain our party and governmental systems in a manner that is rooted in a loyalty and devotion to the Providentially designed Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”

The Constitution is our great guide; it was the pattern upon which our own party’s governing documents were created. Within its words are systems and patterns of government that – if followed – prevent the second law of thermodynamics from taking effect.

As Vice-chair I invite you to join with me in seeking to critically analyze and review our party structure and integrity. Review the party bylaws and constitution. Examine them with the Constitution as your light and guide. Find out who your local partisan leaders are. Find out who represents you on your county or state central committee. Find out who your legislative district leaders are. These are the individuals charged with governing our party and maintaining our governing documents. They are accountable to you. Lend them your assistance and advice, your research and admonitions. Together we can renew the American system of government starting right here at home. By doing so, others will join us in our cause, which has been and should always be the great cause of Liberty.

Morgan Philpot